Levee-building machine.



' No. 852,791. PATENTED MAY 7. 1907. G. G. JACOBS.

LBVBE BUILDING MACHINE.

nruonmn FILED ma.a1.10oo.

5 8HEET8-8HEET 1.

No. 852,791. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

G. G. JACOBS. LEVEE BUILDING MACHINE,

APPLIUAIION FILED AUG.31.1906' 5 SEEBTS-SHEET 2.

No. 852,791. PATENTED MAY '7, 1907. U. G. JACOBS. LEVEE BUILDINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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No. 852,791. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. G. O. JACOBS. LEVEE BUILDING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET n1: nom'us Ps lns co., WASNINGTIIN. o.

UNITED STATES blue.

PATENT OFFI E.

CHARLES C. JACOBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO C. AUSTIN DRAINAGEEXCAVATOR COMPANY,

PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- LEVEE-BUILDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed August 31. 1906. Serial No. 332.831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Levee-Building Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention concerns levee building machines or trenchexcavators and its principal object is the production of such a machinewhose frame shall be of simple character, of as light weight as isconsistent with the strength required, and one which can be easily takenapart, transported and reassem bled..

Another object of my invention is the production of a structure which islargely if not entirely balanced whereby a comparatively small andinexpensive main frame may be used. This main or supporting frame iscaused to rest upon and ride on temporary rails laid upon t c stri ofground between the base of the levee BJK the adjacent edge of :the ditchor trenchfrom which the earth is ex cav'ated to form the dike or levee.

Hinged to the trench end of this main frame is a ditch track sectionadjustable up and down and shaped to conform substantially to thecrosssectional profile or outline of the trench to be dug, and fastenedto the opposite end of the frame is a dumping or discharge track sectionadapted to overhang the levee. The centeror main frame is equipped witha steam j engine and boiler and a track section forming a connectionbetween the ditch and levee or dumping track sections, one or moresharpedged excavating shovels being adapted to travel on the, tracksections to remove dirt from the trench, convey it through or across themain frame, and discharge it upon the gradually forming levee. Theengine is used to traverse the shovel or shovels back and forth, toraise or lower the adjustable ditch track section, and to cause thewhole frame to move longitudinally of the trench or levee when itbecomes necessar to excavate a new portion of ground or bui d a newsection of the levee.

In the accom anying drawings I have illustrated the prefiirredembodiment of my invention, like reference characters referring to thesame parts throughout the various views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved balanced levee builder ortrench excavator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the central portion of myimproved machine; Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine, certain parts beinbroken away; Fig. 4 is a view on 8. reduce scale of the right-handelevation oft'he'fra mentary structure illustrated in Fig. 2 Fig. 5 is aview showing the excavating shovel, the trackway and associated parts;and Fig. 6 is a section of the shovel or track on line 66 of Fig. 5. I

My new type of machine comprises amain or intermediate frame 10,adaptedto travel on the bank between the levee and trench, having hingedat one end a ditch track section 11, and havin hinged at the oppositeend a discharge or um Eng track section 12, both of these sections eingadjustable vertically as set forth hereinafter. T e main frame 10 isprovided with two longitudinal sills 13 each composed of a pair ofspaced channel bars 14. On the under sides of these sills I rotatablymount insuitable bearin s a number of wheels or rollers 15 adapte totravel on temporary rails 16 spiked to the top surfaces of temporarybeams 17 laid on the 'round between the positions of the levee to hebuilt and the trench to be dug. Above these longitudinal sills or beams13 and crossconnecting the same are a plurality of transverse beams 18which support the floor 19. To two adjacent cross-beams 18 are fasteneda pair of upright frame sections 20 of substantially A-shape, thetop-ends of which are tied together by angle gbars 21. Inside of theseA-frame memberijidis-A pair of built up frames or trusses 22 whichsupport angle bars 23 forming the track section of the main frame.

At the right-hand end of frames 22, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and atthe end of the track angle bars 23 at the points 24 is pivoted or hingedthe ditch track section supporting frame 1 1. This frame includes a pairof bent plates 25 shaped to conform substantially to the cross-sectionalprofile of the trench to be dug. These plates 25 are of somewhat U-shape, the upper ends of their legs being joined by the bars 26, whileadditional bars 27 and 28 stiffen the structure andprevent bending ordeflection of the track plates. On the inner sideof each of the trackplates 25 are secured upper and lower angle bars 29 and 30, upon the for.:er of which the wheels i l I f i i i 4 l keep the shovel down to itswork and prevent it from rising. Plates 25 are maintained spaced apartthe proper distance by upwardly projecting frames 31 cross-connected attheir tops by suitable lattice work.

Hinged at 32 on the same end of the main frame above hinges 24 are apair of channel supporting bars 33 whose upper ends are sustained at theproper elevation by means of one or more cables 34 connected to the topsof A-frames 20.

Hinged to the opposite end of frames or trusses 22 at the other ends oftrack angle bars 23 are two plates 35 supplied with up per and lowertrack angle bars 36 and 37 similar to the an le bars 29 and 30. Thesetwo plates 35 wit their angle bars form the dumping or discharge tracksection, the outer end of which is supported by one or more cables 38also connected to the tops of A- frames and adjustable by means ofturnbuckle 38". In order to keep the plates spaced apart the properdistance they are each equipped with a light framework 39cross-connected and latticed together.

It is to be understood that one or more sharp-edged dumping shovelsshall reciprocate on the three track sections forming in reality asingle trackway. In the present device I have illustrated only one ofsuch shovels by way of example. Its truck comprises the side channelbars 40 [Figs 5 and 6] tied together at their front ends by an le bars41 to which is secured means 42 for t e attachment of an advancing cable43. In addition to the angle bars 41 a channel bar 44 also spaces apartchannels 40 which at their rear ends are maintained a art by angle bars45. This truck is supplie with the orward and rear axles 46 and 47 eachof which has two flanged rollers or wheels 48 adapted to travel on theangle bars of the track sections. Pivoted on the rear axle 47 andextending forwardly with their top flanges overlapping the top flangesof channels 40 are a pair of angle bars 49 to the downwardly dependinglegs of which are riveted a pair of sup orting plates 50 in which ismounted the sliaft 51 with or upon which the sharped ed shovel 52 isadapted to turn, as indicate in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This shovel 52has an open forward mouth 53 having a lower sharp cutting edge 54, whilethe rear portion of the bucket curves toward its top as at 55. Thepivotal point of the bucket is such that when released the bucket orshovel will normally turn so as to discharge its load out of its openmouth. Extending across the top of this shovel or scoop is a bar 56provided with means 57 for the attachment of a shovel righting andretracting cable 58. 'In order to maintain the bucket or scoop 52 inload retaining position there is provided two catches 59 which undernormal conditions are projected above the rear upper edge of the shovelby means of an elliptic spring 60 inserted between the rear angle bar 45and a small angle bar 61 connecting the two catches 59, the latter beingcapable of reciprocation through apertures or slots in the angle bars45. l/Vhen thus thrust outwardly or into 0perative position by spring 60the catches prevent the bucket from turning on its pivot 51.

any convenient point on the dischargetrack' section is a transverse rod65 upon which is pivotally mounted a trip arm 66 free to turn in onedirection and prevented from rotation in the opposite direction by afixed stop 67. This trip arm 66 is so positioned that as the shovelascends the discharge track section 35 it engages the arm 64 and pullsthe catches backwardly whereby dumping of the bucket is effected. Whenthe bucket and truck return in their downward movement on the track thearm 64 readily passes beneath the arm 66, the latter turning on its rod65 sulficiently for this purpose. It is desirable to reciprocate thisbucket or shovel 52 back and forth on the trackway by power, to raiseand lower the ditch track frame by the same source of power, and to usethis same operating mechanism to traverse the whole excavator or leveebuilder along the temporary rails 16, consequently I mount upon theplatform of the main frame at one side of the A- frames 20 a steamboiler 68 which furnishes power for the operation of a steam engine 69mounted above the track section of the main frame on frames or supports22.

The engine is supplied with two drums 70 and 71, the former of whichwinds up and pay out the shovel advancing cable 43, while the latteroperates in like manner upon the shovel retracting cable 58. Cable 43passes around a sheave or pulley 72 at the upper end of the dischargetrack section 35, while cable 58 passes around a similar sheave orpulley 73 at the outer end of the ditch track section 11. In addition tothese sheaves I provide along the trackway additional rollers or sheaves74, 75, 76 and 77 with which both of the cables co-act' as the shovelreciprocates. Engine 69 also operates another drum 78 to wind up or payout a cable 79 which controls the raising or lowering of the ditch tracksection; the latter turning about its hinges 24. Cable 79 passes arounda sheave 80 at the top end of arms 33 then passes downwardly around apulley 81 supported by bars 28 of frame 11 thence upwardly once againaround the sheave 80, downwardly around pulley 81, and then upwardly tothe end of arms 33 where it 15 securely fastened.

In order to prevent the dirt spilling upon the level round betwen thelevee and the edge of t e trench as the shovel travels throu h or acrossthe main frame I provide t e latter with an apron or shield 82 havingdownwardly bent ends 83 and 84.

The whole frame may be made to travel along the temporary rails by meansof the following named parts. The Wheels at one end of the frame areconnected by a shaft 85, this shaft being sup lied with a sprocket wheel86 around which passes 'a sprocket chain 87, which in turn encircles asimilar sprocket wheel 88 on a jack shaft 89 suitably mounted inbearings 90 and provided with a bevel gear 91. Another jack shaft 92 iscaused to rotate by the engine through spur gears 93, and at the end ofshaft 92 ad acent to shaft 89 is a loose bevel gear 94 meshing with gear91, gear 94 being capable of rotating wlth shaft 92 when coupledtherewith by the manually actuated clutch 95. It will be readily seenthat, b operating this clutch and the en ine, thew ole frame may be madeto travel a ong longitudinally of the dike and trench so that a newsection of the former may be built or by excavating earth forming anextension of the trench.

Assuming that the temporary rails have been pro rly laid, that the ditchtrack section has een elevated by cable 79 and overhangs an unexcavatedportion of ground, while the dumping or discharge track section has beenad usted-to the proper elevation, the operation of the device is asfollows: The ditch track section is allowed to descend by turning itshinges 24 sufficiently so that as the shovel moves forwardly it willshave off a layer of dirt, carry it through the main frame, spillingthereof being prevented by apron 82, and conveyed upwardly along thedischarge track section until the shovel releasing arm 64 strikes thetrip arm 66 whereupon catches 59 are retracted, the shovel turns on itspivot due to its load, and discharges the same to form a part of thedike or levee. During this advancing of the shovel on the traekway cable43 is being wound upon its drum 70 while cable 58 is paid out at acorrcs ending rate from drum 78. After the loa of the shovel has beendischarged, however, the operator of the device causes the drums to soturn that cable 58 will be wound u on its drum and cable 43 paid outfrom its rum. As soon as the pull is exerted upon cable 58, it at oncerights the shovel, the curved back portion of which resses the catchesinwardly until the shovel is fully righted when they spring outwardlyabove its top rear edge under the influence of spring 60. Furtherwinding up of cable 58 causes the shovel to travel backwardly along itstrackway as will be readily understood. The ditch track section is thenlowered a small amount by paying out cable 79 so that upon the nextadvance movement of the shovel a sufficient layer of earth will beshaved off and dumped upon the gradually forming dike. This operation isre eated as many times as is necessary and when the dike has beencompleted to the proper height, or the ditch excavated to the properdepth, as the case may be, cable 79 is wound upon its drum 78 so as toelevate the ditch track section above the ground at which time the wholeexcavator can be made to travel along the temporary rails so as to bringits parts over a new section of ground to be excavated and its dischargeboom in such position as to form an additional section of the levee.This travel of the excavator is effected by the manipulation of clutch95 thereby coupling the loose gear 94 to shaft 92 and through it causingthe rotation of jack shaft 89. The rotary motion of this latter shaft istransmitted to shaft 85 and two of the rollers or wheels of the framethrough the sprocket chain 87 and its co-operating sprocket wheels 86and 88. The operation of lowering the ditch track section step by stepis then repeated, the shovel reciprocating back and forth scraping outits load and discharging it upon the levee.

The main advantages of my improved excavator are its balancedconstruction whereby a small main frame is required and the ease withwhich its parts may be disassembled and reassembled to enable them to betransported on railway cars. The machine ma be used for the principalpurpose of bui ding the levee, or its main object may be the digging ofthe trench, and attention is directed to the fact that a trench ofsubstantially twice the width of that illustrated may be dug with anexcavator of the type and size shown by first digging one section of thetrench while the excavating machine travels along one bank and thendigging an adjacent longitudinal section of the trench while theexcavator travels along its other lzank.

Instead of digging the two longitudinal halves of the trench insuccession by one device or simultaneously by two excavators, the singlemachine may is shifted laterally of the trench so as to excavate twosections of the trench side by side l. efore icing moved lengthwise theditch for further operations. Although I have shown this excavatingmechanism in conjunction with a main frame adapted to move alongtemporary rails it will he apparent to those skilled in the art that thedevice may he applied to a. boat or scow for dredging purposes.

It is to he understood that various minor ICO rag

mechanical changes may be made in the 1 structure shown and describedwithout departure from the heart and substance of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine ol the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section secured toone end of said main frame, a dumping track section secured to the otherend of said main frame, said track sections forming a continuoustracluvay, one or more sharpedged shovels adapted to travel on saidtrack sections, and means to operate said shovel or shovels,substantially 'as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section secured toone end of said main frame and ads. ted to overhang the position to beoccupiec by the trench to be dug, a dumping track section secured to theother end of said main frame and adapted to overhang the position to beoccupied by the levee to be lzuilt, said track sections forming acontinuous trackway, one or more sharp-edged shovels adapted to travelon said track sections, and means to operate said shovel or shovels,substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section hinged to oneend of said main frame, means to adjust the position of said ditch tracksec tion, a dumping track section secured to the other end of said mainframe, said track sections forming a continuous trackway, one'or moresharp-edged shovels adapted to travel on said track sections, and meansto operate said shovel or shovels, sutstantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section hinged to oneend of said main frame, means to adjust the position of said ditch tracksection, a dumping track section hinged to the other end of said mainframe, means to support the outer end of said dumping track section,said track sections forming a continuous trackway, one or more sharpedged shovels adapted to travel on said track sections, and means tooperate said shovel or shovels, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a-ditch track section hin ed to oneend of said main frame, said ditdli track section being shaped toconform substantially to the cross-sectional profile of the trench to bedug, means to adjust the position of said ditch track section, a dumpingtrack section secured to the other end of said main frame, saidtracksections forming a continuous trackway, one or more sharpedgedshovels adapted to travel on said track sections, and means to operatesaid shovel or shovels, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section hinged to oneend of said main frame and shaped to conform substantiall to thecrosssectional profile of the trenc to be dug, means to verticallyadjust the position of said ditch track section, a dum ing track sectionhinged to the other end 0 said main frame and adapted to overhang thelevee to be built, means to support the outer end of said dumping tracksection, one or more sharpedged shovels adapted to travel on said tracksections, and means to operate said shovel or shovels, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section hinged to oneend of said main frame and shaped to conform substantially to thecrosssectional profile of the trench to be dug, one or more arms hingedto the same end of said main frame, means to support the free end ofsaid arm or arms, a guide pulley mounted on said arm or arms, a cablepassing over said pulley and operatively connected to said ditch tracksection, means to actuate said cable whereby the position of said ditchtrack section may be adjusted, a dumping track section secured to the oposite end of said main frame and adapte to overhang the position to beoccupied by the levee, said trac sections forming a continuous trackway,one or more shar -edged shovels adapt ed t6 travel on sai tracksections, and means to cause said shovel or shovels to travel on saidtrack sections, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainframe provided with a track section, a ditch track section secured toone end of said main frame and adapted to overhang the position to be00- cupied by the trench to be dug, a dumping track section secured tothe other end of said main frame and ada ted to overhang the osition tobe occupied by the levee to be built, said track sections forming acontinuous track'way, one or more sharp-ed ed shovels adapted to travelon said tracic sections, means to cause said shovel or shovels to travelon said track sections, and a shield below said main frame track sectionto prevent dirt spilling from the shovel upon the ground between thelevee and trench, substantially as described.

CHARLES C. JACOBS. \Vitnesses FREDERICK C. GOODWIN,

'WALTER M. FULLER.

IlC

